Betulinic acid alleviates neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in mice. 2023

Yong Sun, and Fei Yu, and Weibiao Cao, and Wei Zhang, and Wu Liu, and Fucheng Dai
Department of Pain Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu 212000, China.

Neuropathic pain refers to a type of pain that arises from primary damage and dysfunction within the nervous system. Addressing this condition presents significant challenges and complexities. Betulinic acid (BA), known for its potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, has garnered extensive attention; nevertheless, the impact upon neuropathic pain induced by CCI is still uncertain. This paper explores the analgesic effects concerning BA on mice experiencing neuropathic pain due to sciatic nerve injury. Throughout the experiment, mice with CCI received oral gavage of BA at dosages of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg for consecutively 8 days from the 7th day post-surgery. To assess their responses, behavioral tests and sciatic functional index (SFI) evaluations were conducted on zeroth, seventh, eighth, tenth, twelveth and fourteenth day post-CCI. On day 14, histopathological examinations and measurements of biochemical markers were performed. Immunofluorescence techniques were employed to detect Nrf2 and glial cell activation, while the Western blot method was utilized to evaluate Nrf2/HO-1 protein levels and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. The results elucidated that BA significantly alleviated hyperalgesia and allodynia, demonstrating a dose-dependent enhancement in sciatic nerve function and facilitating the recovery of sciatic nerve injury. Furthermore, BA prominently augmented the entire antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and T-SOD levels, concomitantly reducing MDA concentrations. Notably, BA activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, inhibited glial cell activation, and downregulation of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were observed. As such, this study provides a basis to support BA as a candidate drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain, attributing its analgesic effects to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009437 Neuralgia Intense or aching pain that occurs along the course or distribution of a peripheral or cranial nerve. Nerve Pain,Neurodynia,Paroxysmal Nerve Pain,Neuralgia, Atypical,Neuralgia, Iliohypogastric Nerve,Neuralgia, Ilioinguinal,Neuralgia, Perineal,Neuralgia, Stump,Neuralgia, Supraorbital,Neuralgia, Vidian,Neuropathic Pain,Atypical Neuralgia,Atypical Neuralgias,Iliohypogastric Nerve Neuralgia,Iliohypogastric Nerve Neuralgias,Ilioinguinal Neuralgia,Ilioinguinal Neuralgias,Nerve Neuralgia, Iliohypogastric,Nerve Neuralgias, Iliohypogastric,Nerve Pain, Paroxysmal,Nerve Pains,Nerve Pains, Paroxysmal,Neuralgias,Neuralgias, Atypical,Neuralgias, Iliohypogastric Nerve,Neuralgias, Ilioinguinal,Neuralgias, Perineal,Neuralgias, Stump,Neuralgias, Supraorbital,Neuralgias, Vidian,Neurodynias,Neuropathic Pains,Pain, Nerve,Pain, Neuropathic,Pain, Paroxysmal Nerve,Pains, Nerve,Pains, Neuropathic,Pains, Paroxysmal Nerve,Paroxysmal Nerve Pains,Perineal Neuralgia,Perineal Neuralgias,Stump Neuralgia,Stump Neuralgias,Supraorbital Neuralgia,Supraorbital Neuralgias,Vidian Neuralgia,Vidian Neuralgias
D003250 Constriction The act of constricting. Clamping,Clampings,Constrictions
D006930 Hyperalgesia An increased sensation of pain or discomfort produced by minimally noxious stimuli due to damage to soft tissue containing NOCICEPTORS or injury to a peripheral nerve. Hyperalgesia, Tactile,Hyperalgesia, Thermal,Hyperalgia,Hyperalgia, Mechanical,Hyperalgia, Primary,Hyperalgia, Secondary,Allodynia,Allodynia, Mechanical,Allodynia, Tactile,Allodynia, Thermal,Hyperalgesia, Mechanical,Hyperalgesia, Primary,Hyperalgesia, Secondary,Hyperalgesic Sensations,Mechanical Allodynia,Mechanical Hyperalgesia,Tactile Allodynia,Thermal Allodynia,Allodynias,Hyperalgesias,Hyperalgesias, Thermal,Hyperalgesic Sensation,Mechanical Hyperalgia,Mechanical Hyperalgias,Primary Hyperalgia,Primary Hyperalgias,Secondary Hyperalgia,Secondary Hyperalgias,Sensation, Hyperalgesic,Sensations, Hyperalgesic,Thermal Hyperalgesia
D000094062 Betulinic Acid A lupane-type triterpene derivative of betulin which was originally isolated from BETULA or birch tree. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV and antineoplastic activities. 3-Epi-betulinic Acid,3-Hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic Acid,3-Hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic Acid,Betulic Acid,3 Epi betulinic Acid
D000700 Analgesics Compounds capable of relieving pain without the loss of CONSCIOUSNESS. Analgesic,Anodynes,Antinociceptive Agents,Analgesic Agents,Analgesic Drugs,Agents, Analgesic,Agents, Antinociceptive,Drugs, Analgesic
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000893 Anti-Inflammatory Agents Substances that reduce or suppress INFLAMMATION. Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Antiinflammatory Agent,Agents, Anti-Inflammatory,Agents, Antiinflammatory,Anti-Inflammatories,Antiinflammatories,Antiinflammatory Agents,Agent, Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Antiinflammatory,Agents, Anti Inflammatory,Anti Inflammatories,Anti Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents
D012584 Sciatic Nerve A nerve which originates in the lumbar and sacral spinal cord (L4 to S3) and supplies motor and sensory innervation to the lower extremity. The sciatic nerve, which is the main continuation of the sacral plexus, is the largest nerve in the body. It has two major branches, the TIBIAL NERVE and the PERONEAL NERVE. Nerve, Sciatic,Nerves, Sciatic,Sciatic Nerves
D016207 Cytokines Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner. Cytokine
D051267 NF-E2-Related Factor 2 A basic-leucine zipper transcription factor that was originally described as a transcriptional regulator controlling expression of the BETA-GLOBIN gene. It may regulate the expression of a wide variety of genes that play a role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Nfe2l2 Protein,Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-Like 2 Protein,Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2,NF E2 Related Factor 2,Nuclear Factor E2 Related Factor 2

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